MRT Purple Line

Purple Line
Overview
Type	Rapid transit
System	MRT
Status	Under Construction
Locale	Bangkok and Nonthaburi Province, Thailand
Termini	Tao Pun (Bang Sue district) Khlong Bang Phai (Bang Bua Thong district)
Stations	16
Operation
Opened	July 2014 (est.)
Owner	Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand
Operator(s)	MRT
Technical
Line length	23 kilometers (14 mi) (est.)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Standard gauge
Electrification	Third rail
Operating speed	80 km/h (50 mph)
Route map Legend Bang Phai Canal Bang Yai Market Bang Yai Intersection Bang Phlu Bang Rak Yai Tha It Sai Ma Chao Phraya River Phra Nangkhlao Bridge Nonthaburi 1 Intersection Si Phonsawan Pink Line:  Min Buri  Nonthaburi Govt. Centre Ministry of Public Health Tiwanon Junction Wong Sawang Light Red Line:  Taling Chan – Bang Sue  Bang Son Tao Pun Blue Line:  Tha Phra – Bang Sue  South Extension Kiak Kai(New parliament) Si Yan Sam Sen National Library Bang Khun Phrom Democracy Monument Orange Line:  Taling Chan – Min Buri  Wang Burapha Blue Line:  Bang Kae – Hua Lamphong  Chao Phraya River Prajadhipok Dark Red Line:  Maha Chai – Hua Lamphong  Wongwian Yai BTS:  Bang Wa – Siam  Samre Mahaisawan Chom Thong Dao Khanong Bang Pakok Phacha Uthit Rat Burana

The MRT Purple Line (Thai: รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร สายสีม่วง) is a rapid transit line under construction of Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area, Thailand, including Nonthaburi Province.

The Purple Line is aimed to serve travel demand between the northwestern suburb of Bangkok in Nonthaburi Province and the southern area of Thonburi in Rat Burana district. It also runs through downtown along Samsen Road, passing Rattanakosin old quarter and many historical places in Dusit and Phra Nakhon district like national library, Thewet market, Bang Lamphu, Democracy Monument, Golden Mount, Phahurat, Memorial Bridge and Wongwian Yai roundabout, and also intended to serve new Thai parliament construction site at Kiak Kai intersection.

This Line is divided into 2 sections, Tao Pun - Khlong Bang Phai (23-km), under construction, and Tao Pun - Rat Burana (19.8-km). Section from Tao Pun - Khlong Bang Phai is scheduled to be completed in 2014, and another within 2019.

When fully completed for the first section, the 5th rapid transit line of Bangkok will be the first Bangkok rapid transit system encroaching upon an adjacent province of Nonthaburi as well. The section links Tao Pun in Bang Sue, Bangkok, to Khlong Bang Phai in Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi Province. The additional Blue Line extension between existing Bang Sue terminus and Tao Pun is also constructed simultaneously. Despite the fact that MRTA has named Bang Sue - Bang Yai section as construction phase, Purple Line will be operated as Tao Pun - Khlong Bang Phai, comprising 16 stations along elevated route, excluding current Bang Sue. The first stage of construction has been commenced in early 2010.

The line is indicated by the colour purple on the map.

Alignment

Tao Pun - Khlong Bang Phai section starts from Tao Pun elevated station at Tao Pun junction, transfers to MRT Blue Line extension. It runs north upon viaduct along Krung Thep-Nonthaburi Road, providing transfer to the Red commuter railway at Bang Son, and approaches Mueang Nonthaburi district of Nonthaburi Province. The line goes further north via Tiwanon Road, passes the Ministry of Public Health entry, then turns at Khae Rai intersection outwards to the west Nonthaburi via Rattanathibet Road, passes Nonthaburi Government Centre, crosses the Chao Phraya River on viaduct parallel to Phra Nangklao Bridge. Then it continues to a large residential area in Bang Yai district and turns to the north along Kanchanaphisek highway, passes Bang Yai market and terminates at Khlong Bang Phai in Bang Bua Thong district (though stop short of reaching Bang Bua Thong town). The total length is 23 km.

Construction contracts

Construction is divided into 3 separate contracts. The first covers Bang Sue - Tao Pun - Phra Nangklao Bridge 12km, 9 stations; the 2nd from Phra Nangklao Bridge (including a new bridge) - Bang Yai - Khlong Bang Phai terminus 11km, 7 stations; and 3rd contract is for the construction of a train depot at Bang Yai terminus and 4 park and ride buildings at Khlong Bang Phai, Bang Yai Intersection, Tha It, and Nonthaburi 1 Intersection stations.^[1]

The first contract construction also includes a 1.2km extension of the MRT Blue Line from Bang Sue to Tao Pun where the line will interchange with the Purple Line.

The 6th contract, due to be awarded in mid 2011, for the laying of 23km of track has been delayed for over 1 year due to internal disputes within the MRTA and uncertainty about the bidding process. ^[2]

Stations

In the table below, an italicized name indicates that the station is under construction and not yet in operation.

Code	Station Name	Thai	Notes	coordinates
Bang Sue-Bang Yai
	Tao Pun	เตาปูน	MRT Blue Line (Tao Pun - Bang Sue extension, under construction) Terminal station
	Bang Son	บางซ่อน	SRT Light Red Line: Bang Son railway station (under construction)
	Wong Sawang	วงศ์สว่าง	Last Station in Bangkok area
	Tiwanon Intersection	แยกติวานนท์	First Station in Nonthaburi Province
	Ministry of Public Health	กระทรวงสาธารณสุข
	Nonthaburi Government Centre	ศูนย์ราชการนนทบุรี	MRT Pink Line (proposed)
	Si Phon Sawan	ศรีพรสวรรค์
	Nonthaburi 1 Intersection	แยกนนทบุรี 1	park and ride
	Phra Nangkhlao Bridge	สะพานพระนั่งเกล้า
	Sai Ma	ไทรม้า
	Tha It	ท่าอิฐ	park and ride
	Bang Rak Yai	บางรักใหญ่
	Bang Phlu	บางพลู
	Bang Yai Intersection	สามแยกบางใหญ่	park and ride
	Bang Yai Market	ตลาดบางใหญ่
	Bang Phai Canal	คลองบางไผ่	park and ride, train depot Terminal station

Future extension

The proposed extension from Tao Pun - Rat Burana will run southward through Bangkok old quarter from Tao Pun junction on viaduct. Then it is graded down into the underground structure along Samsen Road, passing new Thai parliament site, and transfers to purposed Red inner-city shortcut commuter at Sang Hee intersection. It passes national library in Dusit district, before reaches Phra Nakhon district at Thewet market. The line turns east at Bang Lamphu and goes along city moat to the south, transfers to the planned MRT Orange Line at Ratchadamnoen Road near Democracy Monument. It also passes Golden Mount before transfers to the southern extension of Blue Line at Wang Burapha near Yaowarat chinatown and Phahurat textile market.

The line crosses the Chao Phraya River near Memorial Bridge towards Wongwian Yai roundabout in Thonburi west bank, transfers to Dark Red Line commuter and Wongwian Yai BTS Station. It goes further south to Chom Thong, then elevated south for 5.5 km and terminate in Rat Burana district, short distance to a nearby Phra Pradaeng suburban town in Samut Prakan Province. The total length will be about 19.8 km, comprising 11 underground and 5 elevated stations.

A 4.5km extension from Bang Yai to Sai Noi Junction is also under consideration due to a request from the Nonthaburi Governor. It is not part of the original Purple Line plan.^[3]

See also

• Airport rail link
• List of rapid transit systems
• Bangkok Metro
• BTS Skytrain
• SRT Red Lines
• Bangkok BRT

References

1. ^ Watcharapong Thongrung. "CKTC gives in on Purple Line bid price", The Nation, April 20, 2009.
2. ^ "ITD closer to Purple Line contract", The Nation, May 17, 2012.
3. ^ Bid to extend Purple Line to Sai Noi intersection. The Nation, 5 May 2011

External links

• "MRTA Purple Line website"
• "Skyscrapercity Purple Line construction thread" Regular updates, articles, pictures and commentary (In Thai)
• "2Bangkok Purple Line construction thread" Semi-regular updates, articles, pictures and commentary (In English)
• "Bangkok urban rail progress", Railway Gazette, January 22, 2009.